Bill Ritger - Our Friend

[weggieman]

Some of you know but I'm sure a lot don't that our favorite Midwest Safety Crew leader Bill Ritger is not doing well.

Bill has liver cancer. He's at home and doing the best he can. A few of us got together today and had lunch with him. His spirits were pretty good today but you could tell the little bit of travel and being out took a toll on him. He was pretty beat when we left him.

His prognosis is not good. There isn't anything that can be done for liver cancer. It's pretty much a terminal disease.

I asked him what we or others could do for him and he just said calls and cards are good, he likes to talk to people and receive humurous cards and or letters, it keeps him occupied while at home.

Please, if you could find some time a few minutes each week to give him a call or write a note it will help him through this ordeal.

I don't know that he will be healthy enough to make the banquet by the time that comes around so don't plan to wait until then to see him.

Our prayers are with him and Claudia. I'm sure a call or note to her also would help.

Phone is 920-262-0857 and the address is 123 E. Spaulding,  Watertown, WI 53098.

[PaulV]

Thanks for posting up Gordy,

I'm sorry to hear this news about Bill and will send a quick well wishes to him and Claudia.

Paul Vondrak

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Damn.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Most racers don't know this, but everything we love about the Midwest Safety Crew came about through the hard work and straight-up love for the sport that define Bill.
This is the worst news ever.

[Suzy]

I love you very much Bill and Claudia. 

[weggieman]

One other thing, I don't think Bill reads the forum much so don't rely on this to get a message to him. Take the time to write a note or make a call, please.

[EX#996]

Holy crap.....  that sucks.....

Thanks for letting us know Gordy.

Dawn   

[Chef]

Thanks Gordie!!!

Bill has one of, if not the most, genuine smile that Ive seen on this planet...

Very Kind Man!!!

will call and find time to visit from Chicago for sure.

40

[Burt Munro]

Sitting here stunned. 

Can't quite put into words my feelings for Bill and Claudia - let's just say it's a little hard to read the screen right now.

For those of you so inclined please keep them in your prayers!

Rick

[jsoell]

Bill,

My name is Julian Soell. I love racing with CCS, and although I rarely post much on this site, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your commitment to CCS. Until now I didn't know your name, although I've thanked you a few times at various race weekends for your consistent efforts. I recognize your face as a familiar and helpful one, and I recognize your efforts, allowing me to race.

There are probably lots of people like me, who although may be relatively silent, deeply thank you for what you do and who you are...

Julian. 

[r1owner]

Damn...  Like Julian, I didn't know who Bill is until I saw the picture. 

You're in our thoughts Bill.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I went up there this morning and spent the day hanging out with Bill, Steve Hopkins, and a biker/corner worker friend of theirs named Allen.  (Sorry, forgot the last name, and this was the first time I'd met him.)  We cleaned out the garage and got all of Bill and Claudia's bikes parked in a nice, neat line.  It was guy stuff, hanging out in the garage with your buds like men just need to do sometimes, and you could tell that Bill enjoyed it.
Bill is the same fun, happy, smiling guy he's always been.  Problem is, the pain is kicking his ass, and he hasn't got a lot of energy.  He and Claudia are both hopeful for a recovery, and doing all they can to point Bill in that direction.  Rest assured that there aren't any Islamic women doing a death wail at the Ritger home.  But at the same time, they both know the odds.
So hey, I know that Bill is near and dear to many of you.  It's hard to visit someone and look them in the eye when they're in this much hot water, but if you really consider Bill to be a close friend, go see him.